Prabhu's POV

Mostly MNCs will mail their employees to inform that they are kicking them out in the formal language. I quickly called Akash to confirm my suspicion.

"Akash! I got a mail from the company's board. I didn't open it. Do you know anything about it?"

Instead of answering my question, he started laughing like a crazy person.

After a couple of minutes, he composed himself and spoke.

"Hey idiot! Just open the mail. I will stay on the line"

I opened the mail praying all the gods I could remember and started reading it.

I could not believe my own eyes. I started doubting whether I am daydreaming. But the idiot on the line shouted to tell him whether I read it or not.

I disconnected the call and ran into his cabin. He started laughing after seeing me. I punched him in his gut for not telling me about this earlier.

"You should be thanking me, dude! Not punching me. Anyways congratulations for the promotion"

Yes! I got promoted as a Team leader.

"Your hard work and dedication paid off machan" Akash seems happier than me.

(Machan means 'Buddy' in Tamil)

"Thanks, Machan. I am very happy. And I can't wait to see my parent's reaction"

"Uncle and aunt will be proud of you machan. Okay, let me share this news with our Team members. Come da"

"Hmm okay, Machan."

After that Akash informed them formally and asked me to share the new project details with them. Akash is assigned to take the lead of another team.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finished all my work and went temple to thank god for being promoted as a TL.

I called my mom to share this happy news.

"Hello amma, ena panringa?

(Hello mom, what are you doing?)

"Sollu Prabhu, un Murugan mama veetuku vandhirken da."

(Tell me Prabhu, I have come to your Murugan uncle's home)

"Mama-um Athai-um epdi irukanga amma? And I have good news for you amma!"

(How are uncle and aunt? And mom I have good news for you)

"Oh, nanum unaku oru good news vachirken. Nee mudhala sollu pa enna vishayam nu?"

( Oh, I too have good news for you. But you tell me what is it?)

"Amma I got promoted as Team leader"

(Amma - mom)

Amma was very happy. She was thanking God for my promotion and sharing the news with my uncle and aunt.

"Great Prabhu! I am really very proud of you. Congratulations pa. Wait uncle and aunt wanna talk to you."

After talking with them, mom spoke again.

"Prabhu! You have told great news. Now my turn. I got a marriage proposal for you. Do you have any guess?"

But Janaki is still studying. We can't marry yet! Maybe her parents convinced her to continue her studies after marriage. Shit! Why the hell I think about her as my future wife? I don't have any feelings towards her. Maybe little.. Or may be due to the frequent teasing from my relatives in every family functions... Or maybe some other reasons yet to be realized.

What if Janaki is not the alliance mom chosen? Better ask her.

"No amma! I don't have any idea."

"You already know the girl Prabhu. Our family friend Kumar sir's daughter Nandhini. What do you think?"

Whoa! This day can't hold more surprises.

Nandhini! Not Janaki! I slapped myself in my mind for thinking about Janaki.

I remember Nandhini. She used to visit her grandparents who are living a few blocks away from Murugan mama's house.

She is a good looking girl. I don't know about her character. She often comes to Murugan mama's house. She always talks more to me. Both Vidhya and Janaki don't like her because she is kinda modern and our home is a little traditional. Even our parents allow them to use modern dress but everything should be properly covered. Nandhini used to be wearing little revealing dresses which irritates Janaki. She will divert my attention to something else while Nandhini is around me.

I don't have any second opinion. I will marry whomever my parent choose. They never forced me into anything. They always suggest and let me take the final decision. I always respect them and love them more than anything in this world. Being born in a middle-class family, I very well know how they worked hard and sacrificed their own happiness to pave a great future for me.

I am just wondering how Vidhu and Janu (Short form of Vidhya and Janaki) will agree with her.

"Prabhu are you there? Prabhu? Prabhu?"

"Sorry amma, I am zoned out! If the alliance is OK for you, appa(dad), Murugan mama(uncle) and Banu athai(aunt), then it's fine with me."

"Then we will fix one day to make the formal meeting between the two families."

"Okay, amma. Please check with Vidhu and Janu before confirming the date. Their opinion is also important."

"Of course. I will call you later Prabhu. Eat well. Take care pa."

"Sure amma. You too take care!"

After a long conversation, I decided to go to my apartment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I purchased the necessary groceries for me and reached my apartment. Because today is Friday and I usually have off for Saturday and Sunday.

I did my clean up routine and started making dosa and coconut chutney for my dinner.

(Dosa is kind of pancake/crepe made of ground and fermented batter of rice and Urad gram.

Coconut Chutney is gravy type - side dish made by grinding the mixture of freshly shredded coconut, green chilli, garlic, salt, and fried gram and tempered by mustard, urad gram and red chilli) [Mouth watering right! I know!]

While making my last dosa, I got text messages from Vidhu stating that they both don't have classes for 2 days. So I have to go and pick them up tomorrow morning at 9 AM for shopping. I replied them okay and finished my dinner.

I think mom didn't tell them about my promotion. Otherwise, they would have come here and turned my apartment upside-down in the name of celebration!

I have to tell them tomorrow and being in the shopping centre I can pay them for lunch and announce it as my treat. I set my alarm to 6.30 AM and slept after using Facebook for some time.

[To be Continued...]